Information last checked: November 2026. Processes, forms and portals change, so please confirm current details with your insurer, provider or the relevant health authority before acting.
If you are new to the UAE, or arranging care for a relative here, the system can look like a maze of acronyms. This guide explains how it fits together in plain language, with pointers to the official sources for the details that change.
The short version
- Regulation is by emirate. Dubai, Abu Dhabi and the northern emirates each have their own health regulator.
- Care is delivered by both public and private providers. Many residents use private hospitals and clinics, usually through insurance.
- Health insurance is required for residents in Dubai and Abu Dhabi and is commonly arranged by an employer. What it covers, and which providers you can use, depends on the plan.
- Your insurer and your doctor’s facility do much of the administration (approvals, referrals, claims), but you will often need to follow it up yourself.
- In an emergency, call 998 for an ambulance (999 is the police number and 997 the fire service, according to the UAE Government portal) or go to the nearest emergency department.
Who regulates healthcare
There is no single national regulator that runs everything day to day. In practice:
| Where | Main health authority | What it typically covers |
|---|---|---|
| Dubai | Dubai Health Authority (DHA) | Licensing of facilities and professionals, quality standards, health insurance regulation, the NABIDH information exchange |
| Abu Dhabi, Al Ain, Al Dhafra | Department of Health – Abu Dhabi (DoH) | Licensing, quality, insurance programmes (such as Thiqa, Basic and Enhanced), the Malaffi information exchange |
| Northern emirates | Ministry of Health and Prevention (MOHAP), and in some emirates a local authority | Federal health policy and services; check which body applies in your emirate |
Practical consequences: a doctor or clinic is licensed by the authority of the emirate where they work, so check licences on the relevant authority’s own lookup (see how to verify a licence), and complaints go to the authority for that emirate (see what to do if a claim is rejected).
Public and private providers
Public hospitals and clinics are operated through government-backed bodies in each emirate, and a large private sector of hospitals, specialist centres and clinics operates alongside them. Residents with insurance often choose from private providers in their plan’s network; public facilities also serve residents, and arrangements, eligibility and fees differ by emirate and by your insurance, so check with the facility or your insurer.
Three kinds of provider matter most day to day:
- Primary care (family medicine or general practice clinics): the usual first stop for non-emergency problems, and often the route to a specialist.
- Specialists and hospitals: for diagnosis, procedures and admissions. Some plans let you see a specialist directly, others need a referral.
- Home and community services: nursing, physiotherapy and similar support at home. These must also be licensed; see arranging home care after hospital.
How health insurance works
Health insurance is mandatory for residents in Dubai and Abu Dhabi. In most cases the employer arranges cover for the employee; who must cover dependants (spouse, children, parents) varies by emirate, salary level and the employer’s policy, and the sources we reviewed did not agree on the details, so confirm this with your employer, insurer or the regulator before you rely on it.
- Dubai: the law requires sponsors to provide at least a baseline plan, known as the Essential Benefits Plan, with many employers choosing broader cover.
- Abu Dhabi: programmes include Thiqa (for Emirati nationals), Basic and Enhanced plans, administered by Daman and other insurers.
- Other emirates: ask your employer or insurer what applies to you.
Whatever the plan, the same questions decide how smooth your care is:
Questions to ask your insurer or HR team
- Which hospitals, clinics and doctors are in my network?
- Do I need a referral or pre-approval for specialists, tests, procedures or home care?
- What are my co-payments, annual limit and exclusions?
- Are pre-existing conditions covered, and is there a waiting period?
- How do I claim, and what happens if a request is rejected?
If a pre-approval or claim is declined, our guide to rejected claims and pre-approval denials explains how to appeal and where to escalate.
A typical patient journey
- First visit: a family doctor or clinic assesses the problem and may order tests.
- Referral or direct booking: depending on your plan, you may need a referral to a specialist. Ask whether pre-approval is required and who submits it.
- Diagnosis and a treatment plan: the specialist explains options. If the decision is major, consider a second opinion.
- Procedure or admission: check the quotation, approvals and your co-payment first; our planned surgery checklist covers the admin.
- Discharge and recovery: follow-up appointments, therapy or home care. See questions to ask before discharge.
- Ongoing care: back to primary care, with records kept in one place.
Records and information sharing
Each provider keeps its own records. Dubai and Abu Dhabi also run health information exchanges (NABIDH and Malaffi) that let connected providers see key parts of your history. Your consent choices matter and are explained in your medical records in the UAE. Keep your own copies too; see organising medical records.
Official apps and portals
Government portals handle some of the administration. The Dubai Health Authority offers a health insurance complaints service through the DubaiNow app, and in Abu Dhabi, the TAMM platform and the Department of Health website cover services such as insurance complaints. They do not coordinate between your providers, so you or someone you trust still needs to keep the whole picture. Our comparison of navigators, advocates and hospital concierge services explains the human options.
First steps for new residents
In your first weeks
- Get a copy of your insurance card, policy schedule and list of network providers
- Register with a family doctor or clinic near home, before you need one
- Bring or request medical records for anyone with an ongoing condition, and a current medication list
- Save 998 and your nearest emergency department
- Keep one folder (paper or digital) with IDs, insurance, records and key contacts
For a shorter orientation, see new to the UAE: how healthcare works here.
When extra help is useful
Most people manage routine care without help. It becomes harder when several providers are involved, a family member is far away, or approvals and paperwork pile up. AA Health Central (AAHC) is an independent, non-clinical service in Dubai and Abu Dhabi that helps with healthcare navigation and care coordination, and with navigating healthcare when new to the UAE. We do not give medical advice, and we are not an insurer or a provider.
Sources and further reading
- UAE Government portal (emergency numbers and services)
- Dubai Health Authority
- Department of Health, Abu Dhabi
- Gulf News: mandatory health insurance in the UAE
- Department of Health, Abu Dhabi: Malaffi
- NABIDH (Dubai)
This article offers general, non-clinical information only. It is not medical, legal or insurance advice. Always speak to your doctor or healthcare provider about clinical questions. In a medical emergency, call 998.
